Ningbo artisans bring Ne Zha to life through traditional crafts

He Peihong creates paper-cut artworks featuring characters of Ne Zha 2. [Photo/Ningbo Daily]

The Chinese animated blockbuster Ne Zha: The Demon Child Conquers the Sea has sparked a wave of creativity in Ningbo, Zhejiang province, with local artisans bringing the film's lively characters to life through traditional crafts.

He Peihong, a member of the Chinese Folk Literature and Art Association living in the city's Minglou subdistrict, has created paper-cut artworks featuring characters like Ne Zha, Li Jing, and Wuliang Xianweng. She skillfully employed traditional fire patterns, lotus motifs, and crescent designs to capture Ne Zha's features and dynamic movements. She believes that Ne Zha's rebellious spirit reflects the enduring strength of traditional culture.

Lu Xiaoyan's clay Ne Zha figurines. [Photo/Ningbo Daily]

In Ningguang community, popular blogger Lu Xiaoyan has captivated her audience with her clay Ne Zha figurines. By blending different types of clay, she crafted four unique figurines, each full of life and energy.

"Even though clay has its limits, after a lot of trial and error, I finally matched the colors to those in the film," said Lu.

Recently, she shared her process online and even held a workshop for local children to teach them how to make their own clay Ne Zha.